Scientists Create Solar-Powered Animal Cells Using Algal Chloroplasts
Scientists at the University of Tokyo have made a major discovery by creating animal cells that can draw energy from sunlight. This achievement was made possible by embedding chloroplasts, photosynthetic structures found in algae, into animal cells, a process previously thought impossible. The researchers believe this new method could open doors to innovative solutions in artificial tissue development, especially in low-oxygen conditions.
The Experiment and Its Unique Approach
The team selected the CHO-K1 cell line, derived from a Chinese hamster, as the host for the chloroplasts due to its high receptivity to foreign materials. By using chloroplasts from Cyanidioschyzon merolae, a red algae that tolerates warmer environments, the scientists circumvented a key challenge. Unlike other chloroplasts that lose function below 37°C, these algae chloroplasts can stay active at body temperature, making them a suitable choice for integration with animal cells.
New Ground in Cell Integration
For years, attempts to incorporate chloroplasts into animal cells faced a persistent obstacle: these foreign structures were typically broken down within hours. However, the University of Tokyo team observed that, with the right conditions, these chloroplasts maintained photosynthetic activity in hamster cells for up to 48 hours. Through sophisticated imaging techniques, they tracked the photosynthetic process, showing that these chloroplasts continued to generate energy when exposed to light—a significant milestone in cellular biology.
Implications for Future Research
The findings hint at more possibilities for the future. The researchers noted that cells with chloroplasts showed improved growth, possibly due to an additional energy source within the cells. This boost could pave the way for further exploration into how chloroplasts might support cell function and growth. The mechanisms behind the interaction between chloroplasts and animal cell components remain undiscovered. The researchers are keen to understand this dynamic.
Professor Sachihiro Matsunaga, leading the team, envisions these hybrid “planimal” cells as valuable tools in advancing a more sustainable, carbon-neutral approach in biotechnology. With continued research, these hybrid cells could become a crucial element in developing energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies.
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On January 15, 2022, the Hunga volcano near Tonga erupted in an explosive event that sent shockwaves across the planet. The eruption happened around the same time as Cyclone Cody. It created a shockwave powerful enough to trigger low, booming sounds that were heard from New Zealand to Alaska. It also caused a tsunami that impacted distant coastlines, marking the eruption as one of the most impactful volcanic events in recent memory.
Public Observations Fill Gaps in Scientific Data
Following the eruption, GNS Science, New Zealand’s geological agency, invited residents to share their experiences. More than 2,100 people responded, reporting everything from rumbling sounds and pressure in their ears to windows rattling and animals reacting to the disturbance. By comparing these accounts with data from seismic and atmospheric sensors, scientists confirmed that these firsthand experiences mirrored instrument readings closely.
According to Dr. Emily Lane, Senior Scientist at GNS, the information provided by people across New Zealand helped researchers see patterns in how the sound traveled across the country. Most reports of loud “booms” came from the North Island, suggesting the pressure wave from the eruption traveled from north to south. The details in these reports offered scientists insights that even precise instruments might not capture alone.
New Directions for Disaster Preparedness
The crowdsourced observations also revealed how people responded when they heard the booming sounds. Many checked on family or went outside to assess the situation, while others reached out to friends to make sure they were safe. Several respondents mentioned remembering previous volcanic eruptions, showing how past experiences can influence responses to natural events.
Researchers at GNS are now exploring ways to use these kinds of reports in tracking geohazards, like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Combining public observations with scientific data could enhance future disaster preparedness, giving communities an additional layer of awareness and response to support public safety and resilience.
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A recent discovery by UCLA scientists has challenged a century-old principle in organic chemistry, reshaping fundamental knowledge and broadening possibilities for pharmaceutical research. Researchers who were led by Professor Neil Garg, have found a way to synthesise and stabilise anti-Bredt olefins (ABOs), molecular structures. These structures were long considered too unstable to exist. This accomplishment dismantles Bredt’s rule—a restriction from 1924 that has influenced molecular design for decades—allowing chemists to explore new chemical reactions in drug development.
Bredt’s Rule and Its Historical Significance
Established by chemist Julius Bredt nearly a hundred years ago, Bredt’s rule asserts that double bonds cannot exist at the bridgehead position in certain molecules, as this structure would disrupt molecular stability. Bredt’s rule has held strong for decades, barring chemists from designing certain types of synthetic compounds. Given that double bonds or olefins, are widely used in pharmaceuticals, this limitation has affected the landscape of drug design by restricting the diversity of possible molecular structures.
How UCLA Researchers Achieved the Impossible
In a paper published in Science, Garg and his team reveal a method to create ABOs by treating molecules known as silyl (pseudo)halides with a fluoride source, which sparks an elimination reaction, leading to ABO formation. To handle the instability of ABOs, the team introduced a trapping agent to stabilise the molecules, allowing them to isolate practical reaction products. This approach provides chemists with a controlled way to work with ABOs, opening up pathways to design unique compounds with real-world applications.
Implications for the Future of Drug Discovery
According to Garg, the pharmaceutical industry has a strong interest in generating 3D structures like those which are now achievable with ABOs. It could be critical for discovering novel drugs. “For over a century, chemists have avoided anti-Bredt olefins, believing them impossible to work with,” Garg said, highlighting the potential of these newly accessible compounds for drug innovation. Co-author and computational chemistry expert Professor Ken Houk’s collaboration also helped elucidate the potential of these compounds in practical applications.
This finding invites chemists to rethink molecular rules as flexible guidelines rather than fixed laws, could catalyse a wave of innovation in synthetic chemistry and pharmaceutical development.
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